Squaring off against several large schools and some of the state’s top grapplers, the Mancos High School wrestling team held its own during five matches at the Grand Junction Duals on Dec. 14.
Leading the way for the Bluejays in his first season of high school wrestling was sophomore football star Chase Moore, who picked up four wins in his five matches in the competitive 160-pound division.
Also turning in a string of impressive performances for the Bluejays was 152-pound junior Colt Fury, who scored wins over wrestlers from Grand Junction’s junior varsity, Moffat County, Montrose. Fury’s only losses came to Fruita Monument and Palisade.
Other Bluejays wrestlers who picked up at least three wins were Carter Galloway, who won three of his five matches in the 120-pound division; Ty Everett, who picked up three wins in the 138-pound division; and Benny Lewis, who won three matches in the heavyweight division.
Trevor Paquin and Ayden Matthews each finished 2-5 while splitting time between the 126-pound division and 132-pound division, and Lot Martin won two of his five matches at 145 pounds.
Mancos’ Kenyon Rosales picked up a win over Montrose and finished 1-4 in the 170-pound division, and William Small lost all five of his matches while competing at 182 pounds.
The Bluejays defeated Grand Junction’s junior varsity 43-18 and won a thriller over Montrose by a score of 42-36. Mancos lost to Palisade 52-24, fell to Fruita Monument 60-12 and was defeated by Moffat County 54-15.
Next up for the Bluejays will be the Pete and Ina Gomez Wrestling Invitational Dec. 21 in Walsenburg.